HC Deb 11 February 1913 vol 48 cc697-8
70. Captain CRAIG

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether insured persons under the National Insurance Act who do not select a doctor on the local panel may be allotted to a coloured doctor without their knowledge, and may not know that such has been done till illness compels them to requisition his services; and whether, in the event of an insured person's own selected white doctor not being available for any reason, he or she is compelled under the Act to accept the services of another panel doctor in the same administrative area, even though coloured, or else call in the services of a medical man not on the panel, the payment for whose services cannot be recovered from the Insurance Commissioners?

Mr. MASTERMAN

If an insured person fails to exercise his right of choosing a doctor, he thereby leaves to the insurance committee the duty of allotting him to one of the doctors on the panel. If the doctor who has undertaken the treatment of an insured person is precluded by urgency of other professional duties, absence from home, or other reasonable cause from personally attending, he is required to the best of his ability to provide that when he is so precluded from personal attendance some other doctor will give attendance as his deputy on his behalf.

Captain CRAIG

Does not that make it possible for some of those who require assistance to have a doctor to whom they object?

Mr. MASTERMAN

Certainly not if they exercise the choice of doctor which is given to all insured persons, and I should think they could equally exercise the choice in desiring not to be attended by a particular doctor.

Mr. RUPERT GWYNNE

What is the position of affairs if a doctor refuses certain patients?

Mr. MASTERMAN

Most elaborate provision is made in the Regulations, of which I will send the hon. Member a copy.